RETIREMENT OF MR G. H. BLAIR

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28080, 22 September 1956, Page 7

RETIREMENT OF MR G. H. BLAIR

Chairman Of N.Z. Potato Board ANTERBURY GROWERS PAY TRIBUTES rhen a function to mark the remeit o' Mr G. H. Blair as chairi ! of the New Zealand Potato rd. was held in Christchurch srday afternoon representatives of the branches of the board in erbury paid tribute to Mr Blair’s l As well as being chairman for last two years. Mr Blair has rented the North Canterbury ward he board for six years. wng the representatives who conudated Mr Blair on his achievets while a member of the board • the secretary of the Central to Ward Committee (Mr A. E. Lyttle). Mr C. T. Williams apoi). Mr W. J. Fletcher (South etbury). Mr W. H. Hayman

(Waimate), and Mr M. C. Hannifin (Temuka). Mr D. H. Butcher, chairman of North Canterbury Federated Farmers, and Mr R. Barnes, chairman of the North Canterbury Potato Ward Committee, also spoke. Replying to the speakers, Mr Blair said he had earned himself the name of the “most provocative” member of the board. “The most important people in our industry are the consumers, and whatever we do must be with an eye to the satisfaction of the customer” said Mr Blair. “It was to this end that the board fought for the guarantee for growers—so that there would be a continuity of supply for consumers. Both political parties—one in 1948, and the other in 1950 said that the guaranteeing of growers was impracticable. Since then, by bringing the facts before them, we have changed their opinions, and I do not think any party can again rise to power without continuing the guarantee. “Three years’ shortage of potatoes cost this country £3,000.000, and it need have cost no more than the £300.000 required to give a guarantee,” he said. “It is probably very hard to realise just what the board is doing to main-

tain the principle of the producer- 1 consumer well-being,” said Mr Blair. < “One of the main reasons the board < has succeeded—and no-one knows just ; how close it was to extinction last i year—is because of the co-operation j of individual merchants. Better-Quality Potatoes “There are two examples of the ( results of the producer-consumer ■ well-being policy. One is the ‘ guarantee, which is today reflected in higher acreages of potatoes, and 1 the other is the result of the recent joint meeting of leaders of the industry to discuss the problems of poor-quality potatoes reaching the consumer. The board is now setting in motion procedures to ensure that the public v ill get better-quality potatoes, and to protect the majority of growers 'rom those few who p”t the poor-quality ones across,” said Mr Blair. “I knoW that it is a difficult job to keep politics away from the potato industry, but it must be kept clear if the board is to continue. I would like , to feel that whatever party was in power, I could go to a Minister and speak what I thought was right,” he said. The New Zealand Potato Board

had not had a long list of successes said Mr Blair, but with hard worl every defeat had been turned t< advantage. Today there were 15 potati grower organisations in all parts o New Zealand which sent delegates t< the New Zealand Potato Committee Mr Blair thanked “The Press” fo “its intelligent interest” in the affair of the board, and said that man; hours had had to spent with th< editors of some North Island news papers before their support for th< board was gained. He particular? thanked the growers in Canterbur; who had supported him during hi term as a member and chairman o the board.